Thus the canoe drifted on for a week, the forests that for many miles had skirted the river ultimately giving place to extensive jungles that stretched far away to the horizon. Destitute1, fortunately for the travellers, of human inhabitants, the district abounded2 in a large variety of animal life; zebras, elands, caamas, sported on the bank, disappearing at night-fall before howling leopards3 and roaring lions.
It was Dick's general custom, as he lay to for a while in the afternoon, to go ashore4 in search of food, and as the manioc, maize5, and sorghum6 that were to be found were of a wild growth and consequently not fit for consumption, he was obliged to run the risk of using his gun. On the 4th of July he succeeded by a single shot in killing7 pokoo, a kind of antelope8 about five feet long, with annulated horns, a tawny9 skin dappled with bright spots, and a white belly10. The venison proved excellent, and was roasted over a fire procured11 by the primitive12 method, practised, it is said, even by gorillas13, of rubbing two sticks together.
In spite of these halts, and the time taken for the night's rest, the distance accomplished14 by the 8th could not be estimated at less than a hundred miles. The river, augmented15 by only a few insignificant16 tributaries17, had not materially increased in volume; its direction, however, had slightly changed more to the north-west. It afforded a very fair supply of fish, which were caught by lines made of the long stems of creepers furnished with thorns instead
[Illustration: He stood face to face with his foe18.]
of fish-hooks, a considerable proportion being the delicate sandjtkas, which when dried may be transported to any climate; besides these there were the black usakas, the wide-headed monndés, and occasionally the little dagalas, resembling Thames whitebait.
Next day, Dick met with an adventure that put all his courage and composure to the test. He had noticed the horns of a caama projecting above the brushwood, and went ashore alone with the intention of securing it. He succeeded in getting tolerably close to it and fired, but he was terribly startled when a formidable creature bounded along some thirty paces ahead, and took possession of the prey19 he had just wounded.
It was a majestic20 lion, at least five feet in height, of the kind called káramoo, in distinction to the maneless species known as the Nyassi-lion. Before Dick had time to reload, the huge brute21 had caught sight of him, and without relaxing its hold upon the writhing22 antelope beneath its claws, glared upon him fiercely. Dick's presence of mind did not forsake23 him; flight he knew was not to be thought of; his only chance he felt intuitively would be by keeping perfectly24 still; and aware that the beast would be unlikely to give up a struggling prey for another that was motionless, he stood face to face with his foe, not venturing to move an eyelid25. In a few minutes the lion's patience seemed to be exhausted26; with a grand stateliness, it picked up the caama as easily as a dog would lift a hare, turned round, and lashing27 the bushes with its tail, disappeared in the jungle.
It took Dick some little time to recover himself sufficiently28 to return to the canoe. On arriving, he said nothing of the peril29 to which he had been exposed, but heartily30 congratulated himself that they had means of transport without making their way through jungles and forests.
As they advanced, they repeatedly came across evidences that the country had not been always, as now it was, utterly31 devoid32 oi population; more than once, they observed traces which betokened33 the former existence of villages; either some ruined palisades or the débris of some thatched huts, or some solitary35 sacred tree within an enclosure would indicate that the death of a chief had, according to custom, made a native tribe migrate to new quarters.
If natives were still dwelling36 in the district, as was just probable, they must have been living underground, only emerging at night like beasts of prey, from which they were only a grade removed.
Dick Sands had every reason to feel convinced that cannibalism37 had been practised in the neighbourhood, Three times, as he was wandering in the forest, he had come upon piles of ashes and half-charred human bones, the remnants, no doubt, of a ghastly meal, and although he mentioned nothing of what he had seen to Mrs. Weldon, he made up his mind to go ashore as seldom as possible, and as often as he found it absolutely necessary to go, he gave Hercules strict directions to push off into mid-stream at the very first intimation of danger.
A new cause of anxiety arose on the following evening, and made it necessary for them to take the most guarded measures of precaution. The river-bed had widened out into a kind of lagoon38, and on the right side of this, built upon piles in the water, not only was there a collection of about thirty huts, but the fires gleaming under the thatch34, made it evident that they were all inhabited. Unfortunately the only channel of the stream flowed close under the huts, the river elsewhere being so obstructed39 with rocks that navigation of any kind was impossible. Nothing was more probable than that the natives would have set their nets all across the piles, and if so, the canoe would be sure to be obstructed, and an alarm must inevitably40 be raised. Every caution seemed to be unavailing, because the canoe must follow the stream; however, in the lowest of whispers Dick ordered Hercules to keep clear as much as he could of the worm-eaten timber. The night was not very dark, which was equally an advantage and a disadvantage, as while it permitted those on board to steer41 as they wanted, it did not prevent them from being seen.
The situation became more and more critical. About a hundred feet ahead, the channel was very contracted; two natives, gesticulating violently, were seen squatting42 on the pilework; a few moments more and their voices could be heard; it was obvious that they had seen the floating mass; apprehending43 that it was going to destroy their nets, they yelled aloud and shouted for assistance; instantly five or six negroes scrambled44 down the piles, and perched themselves upon the cross-beams.
On board the canoe the profoundest silence was maintained. Dick only signalled his directions to Hercules, without uttering a word, while Jack45 performed his part by holding Dingo's mouth tightly closed, to stop the low growlings which the faithful watch-dog seemed resolved to make; but fortunately every sound was overpowered by the rushing of the stream and the clamour of the negroes, as they hurriedly drew in their nets. If they should raise them in time, all might be well, but if, on the other hand, the canoe should get entangled46, the consequences could hardly fail to be disastrous47. The current in its narrow channel was so strong that Dick was powerless either to modify his course or to slacken it.
Half a minute more, and the canoe was right under the woodwork, but the efforts of the natives had already elevated the nets so that the anticipated danger was happily escaped; but it chanced that in making its way through the obstacle, a large piece of the grass-thatch got detached. One of the negroes raised a sudden shout of alarm, and it seemed only too probable that he had caught a sight of the travellers below and was informing his companions. This apprehension48, too, was only momentary49; the current had changed almost to a rapid, and carried the canoe along with such velocity50 that the lacustrine village was quickly out of sight.
"Steer to the left!" cried Dick, finding that the riverbed had again become clear.
A stiff pull at the tiller made the craft fly in that direction.
Dick went to the stern, and scanned the moonlit waters. All was perfectly still, no canoe was in pursuit; perhaps the natives had not one to use; but certain it was that
[Illustration: Instantly five or six negroes scrambled down the piles.]
when daylight dawned no vestige51 of an inhabitant was to be seen. Nevertheless Di............